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LRQA Eco-Entrepreneur Competition

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Press release Immediate: February 14, 2011 LRA/01/11British foreign secretary launches LRQA eco-entrepreneur competitionLRQA and the British Council unveil ground-breaking, Asia-wide environmental initiative tohelp combat climate change and to support the work of the regions young entrepreneursLloyds Register Quality Assurance Limited (LRQA) and the British Council have launched theirE-Idea initiative to encourage, fund and mentor young innovators from across the Asia-Pacificregion as they work to bring their environmental projects to the commercial arena.The new initiative was launched recently at the Sydney Opera House by William Hague, UKSecretary ofState for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, LRQAs Australian Business Centre Manager,MauriceLaratro, and Nick Marchand, Director of the British Council, Australia."This initiative is designed to assist and to initiate new projects that motivate people to minimisetheir own impact -- their own climate-change impact," said Hague at the launch. "In particular,[the grants target] entrepreneurs with good ideas that will help address some of these biggestsustainability challenges for urban communities, while making a positive impact."E-Idea will be rolled out this year in Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Thailand andVietnam, taking the form of a business competition for 18- to 35-year-olds. Six winningentrepreneurs from each country will each receive up to US$10,000 in project funding as wellas technical, mentoring, marketing and networking support from the experts at LRQA and theBritish Council.Laratro said E-Idea presented tremendous opportunities for the environment and for business."E-Idea is a truly exciting programme. It does something tangible for the environment and itsupports our young environmental leaders as they work to mitigate the effects of climatechange. Crucially, it invests in our future," Laratro said. "The E-idea competition is a primeexample of how public bodies and commercial enterprises can work together in constructiveand innovative ways to address the effects of climate change, not only in their own countries,but worldwide."E-Idea will start in April in Australia, where it will be known as the Big Green Idea. LRQA helpedto devise and develop the programme and has donated £250,000 to help fund the initiativeand ensure its long-term success. To be eligible for an award, the projects must becommercially viable, original and focussed on real-life, urban-based, sustainability or climate-change issues.Huw Oliphant, British Council Project Manager for E-idea, said: "The British Council is delightedto be working with LRQA on this project. Their expertise and their positive and enthusiasticcommitment make them an ideal partner. This is one of our most significant corporatecollaborations to date."In addition to funding, LRQA and the British Council will create opportunities for thecompetition winners to connect with clients and other stakeholders, helping them to furtherrealise the commercial potential of their projects.British foreign secretary launches LRQA eco-entrepreneur competition

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As such, E-Idea is unique in Asia. No other sustainability or climate-change initiative haschallenged or rewarded young Asian eco-entrepreneurs in this way.Both organisations believe Asia is the most appropriate region for the initiative: no other areaof the world is more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than Asia and the Pacific,with the regions families, food supplies and financial prosperity potentially at risk.EndsA photo of William Hague launching E-Idea in Sydney can be found here:http://thehub/livelinkprod/llisapi.dll/RB.gif?func=doc.Fetch&nodeId=7716406&docTitle=RB%2EgifNotes to editorsLRQA is a member of the Lloyd’s Register Group. We are a leading independent provider ofBusiness Assurance services including certification, validation, verification and training. TheGroup enhances the safety of life, property and the environment by helping our clients toensure the quality construction and operation of critical infrastructure. It comprises charitiesand non-charitable entities, which support the charities in their main goalFor media enquiries contact:Richard CookCorporate Communications ManagerLloyd’s Register AsiaT 852-2287-9375M 852-9228-8375F 852-2845-2616E richard.cook@lr.orgLloyds Register Asia3501, China Merchants TowerShun Tak Centre168-200 Connaught Road CentralHong KongE news@lr.orgwww.lr.orgServices are provided by members of the Lloyd’s Register Group.For further information see www.lr.org/entitiesBritish foreign secretary launches LRQA eco-entrepreneur competition